Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Today, I'm going to tell you about a city that I was able to visit during my recent road trip in Andalusia and that really marked me: Seville. A real favorite of my trip to Andalusia, I stayed a few days in this magnificent city and was able to live to the rhythm of Andalusia.
In this article, I will give you all my advice for visit Seville. We will start first with a practical question: how to reach the center of Seville from the airport. Then we will review the essentials to see in Seville. We will end with some practical advice to prepare your stay well and above all, our good addresses to discover in Seville and some ideas for itineraries for visits over several days.
So let's go for a discovery of Seville, probably my favorite city in Europe!



Visit Seville: Book your Seville city pass:
Opt for a city-pass and visit Seville in complete peace of mind. Also take advantage of attractive discounts on your visits. See the city pass

Preparing for your visit to Seville

Before getting to the heart of the matter, I offer you here some advice to prepare your stay. In this part, we will mainly talk about the steps to plan before your stay. Here is a list of the main steps allowing you to prepare your stay in Seville.


Prepare your visit to Seville:

Book your flight to Seville

Seville is a city particularly well served in terms of flights from France. Many French cities allow you to reach Seville thanks to regular connections such as the cities of Paris, Marseille, Nantes, Toulouse or Bordeaux.
You can find all the flights to Seville on the Ulysse.com website, which will take care of offering you the best possible offer.


See all flights to Seville thanks to the comparator ulysse.com !

Main activities to book in Seville

Now let's move on to the activities you are likely to do during your stay at Séjour. Some are very popular, so it is recommended to go a little in advance to book your entry or your guided tour. Here is a list of the main activities that we advise you to book in Seville. You will find more details later in this article.
(Prices quoted are per person based on two people per tour.)

Airport transfer :
Book your transfer between Seville airport and the city center with an English-speaking driver.
€16 Buy
Alcazar + Cathedral guided tour:
Opt for a guided tour in French of the two emblematic monuments of Seville, namely the Alcazar, its gardens, the Cathedral and the Giralda.
€57 Buy
Seville city pass:
This pass gives you access to the main visits of Seville: the Cathedral and the Alcazar. As well as the tourist bus, an audio guide as well as discounts.
€55 Buy
Seville tourist bus:
Access for 1 day to the hop-on hop-off tourist bus and visit Seville with an audio guide in French.
€22 Buy
Alcazar skip-the-line ticket:
Skip the lines to visit the Alcazar of Seville with this skip-the-line ticket.
€14 Buy
Skip-the-line Cathedral ticket:
Avoid the queues to visit Seville Cathedral and its Giralda with this skip-the-line ticket.
€12 Buy
Flamenco show:
Watch a Flamenco show in the city where this famous dance originated.
€22 Buy

Reach the city center of Seville from its airport

The first step of your stay in Seville will, of course, be to return to the city center of Seville and your accommodation from the airport.
For this, several solutions are available to you, the first, and the most economical, is to opt for the bus.



Bus

Nothing could be simpler, leave the airport and head to your left, the bus stop is right there, in front of the airport entrance. Tickets are purchased from an agent located at the stop.
Reaching the city center of Seville from the airport by bus will cost you 4€. Only one bus line passes here, impossible to go wrong. In addition, the buses connecting the airport to the city center of Seville are easily recognizable with a large "Aeropuerto" written on them, the line is called "EA". It will take approximately 35 to 50 minutes to reach the city center from the airport depending on traffic.

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

The bus does not enter the historic center of the city but bypasses it by the peripheral boulevards. The closest stop to the cathedral (and therefore to the hyper center) is the Paséo Colón stop, at the foot of the Torre del Oro.

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

By private shuttle

Another solution to reach the city center of Seville from the airport, opt for a shuttle. More expensive, it is also more practical since it will drop you off wherever you want in the city center of Seville. If you are traveling with several people or with children and want to waste a minimum of time in transport then this may be a good solution.

Book a shuttle at the airport

Book your accommodation in Seville

Several solutions are available to you in terms of neighborhoods where to stay in Seville. The historic center will be one of the neighborhoods to be favored for accommodation close to places of interest, but neighborhoods such as Macarena and Alameda de Hércules or extramuros and parque de Maria Luisa or Triana are not to be excluded.
You can find a large number of accommodations on the Booking.com website.



Read the article: Where to sleep in Seville?

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Now let's get to the heart of the matter with this section dedicated to the essentials to visit in Seville. Indeed, Seville is dotted with places to visit. It is an architecturally and culturally rich city. Here are the essentials of a visit to Seville.

The essentials of Seville:

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Seat

Central point of the city, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the See of Seville is truly the must-see number 1 (with the Alcazar) of Seville. Visiting Seville rhymes with visiting its cathedral. This is one of the largest in Europe. It has the particularity of being erected on the very site of the Almohad mosque, of which it has preserved the minaret, now renovated into a bell tower. It is possible to climb to the top of this bell tower using a ramp which, at the time, allowed access to the top of the minaret on horseback.
Inside the building, you will find many paintings, sculptures adorned with gold, jewels, tombs, some of which are very famous such as that of Christopher Columbus, a native of the city, or the one of the largest monstrances in the world.
If you want to know more about the cathedral, I invite you to read our article dedicated to the visit of the cathedral of Seville. You will find all the information on booking a guided tour and its progress, as well as information on the history of the cathedral.

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?


Some tips for visiting the cathedral.
First of all know that it is very popular, you will most certainly have to wait several tens of minutes, even more than an hour outside before buying a ticket. It will cost you 9 euros.
If you are not the patient type, several options are available to you. For 3€ more you can buy a skip-the-line ticket for the cathedral online or go through a guide, it will certainly cost you a few euros more, but it will save you precious minutes and make you benefit from its valuable comments. Book your visit to Seville Cathedral Seville Cathedral opening hours:
Monday: 11 a.m. – 15:30 p.m. (free tours in Spanish and English at 16:30 p.m. and 18 p.m.)
Tuesday to Saturday: 11 a.m. – 17 p.m.
Sunday: 14:30 a.m. - 18 p.m.
Beware of religious holidays and Holy Week, the schedules can be modified!
Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
Seville Cathedral and its Giralda
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

The Alcazar of Seville

The Alcazar of Seville is an old fortified palace built in the XNUMXth century. Modified many times over time and invaders, the Alcazar consists of different palaces, patios and a huge flower garden where it is very pleasant to stroll. If you opt for a guided tour of the Alcazar, you will learn more about this emblematic place of the city. Its history is fascinating as evidenced by its unique architecture resulting from an incredible mixture of styles.
The Alcazar is the oldest inhabited palace in Europe. Indeed, one of the parts of the Alcazar remains closed to the public because, two to three times a year, the King of Spain takes up residence there during his stays in Seville.
We have dedicated an article to this emblematic place of a visit to Seville, if you want to know more about the Alcazar of Seville, I invite you to take a look.

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?


Some tips for visiting the Alcazar of Seville
The Alcazar is by far the most popular place in Seville. It attracts many visitors every day. You should know that the number of people in the Alcazar is limited. If you do not have a skip-the-line ticket or have not opted for a guided tour, you can purchase a ticket on site, however be prepared (depending on the period) for a long wait in front of the entrance to the Alcazar. To save time and especially for a more pleasant and instructive visit, I advise you to opt for a guided tour. This will allow you to have more time to visit Seville. Book your visit to the Alcazar of Seville Opening hours of the Alcazar of Seville:
October to March: Monday to Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 17 p.m.
April to September: Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 19 p.m.
The Alcazar of Seville is closed on January 1 and 6, Good Friday and December 25.
Alcazar of Seville prices:
Single entry (warning average wait between 1 and 2 hours): €11,50
Guided tour (French) + skip-the-line ticket (direct entry): €30

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Note that during the summer, from June to September, you can attend the nights of the Alcazar: shows, music and stories in the middle of the Alcazar.


Opt for a handset in French:
It is possible to buy a ticket for a guided tour of the cathedral and the Alcazar in French. The tour takes 2 hours to visit the two main places in the city. No waiting at the entrance to the cathedral or the Alcazar. This is the formula I opted for during my last stay in Seville and I highly recommend it. Book your guided tour in French

The arenes of the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Séville

The bullring of Seville is also one of the emblematic places to visit in Seville. These arenas have been classified as a historical monument since 1984. They are home to one of the most famous bullfights in Spain. The bullring is located in the El Arenal district, a short 10-minute walk from the center of the city. These arenas can be visited, it will cost you 6,50 €. Seville's bullring is open every day, from 9:30 a.m. to 20 p.m.
The visit lasts about 45 minutes, it includes the visit of the bullring and also of the museum of the real Maestranza. I advise you to come and reserve your entry early in the day. Indeed, the visits are at fixed times. During our visit, all places were reserved for the next visit, we had to reserve and come back a few hours later.
Another possibility to visit the bullring of Seville: opt for a private guided tour in a small group.

Book your small group guided tour

If you want to see a bullfight, you will have to plan ahead and check the dates of the performances. For the less known, no need to book in advance, tickets can be purchased on site, however if you wish to attend certain famous bullfights, you will have to reserve your place several months in advance.

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Metropol Parasol

The Metropol Parasol of Seville was originally a desire of the municipality to rehabilitate Plaza de la Encarnación. In 2004, the city of Seville organizes a public tender in order to elect one of the projects which will be presented to them. It was therefore the Metropol Parasol project that won the contract. The project included a public square, a covered market and an archaeological museum.
It was therefore in 2011, after several shutdowns and a fairly large overrun of the budget, going from 30 million to more than 100 million euros, that the Metropol Parasol was inaugurated.
Its dimensions are 150 meters by 70 and its height approximately 28 meters for an area of ​​11 m000.

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

The Metropol Parasol has therefore become one of the emblematic monuments of the city. Besides this unique and original wooden structure, the Metropol Parasol also has an archaeological museum called the Antiquarium, underground, with several bars around the structure. I will present this museum in more detail right after.
The Metropol Parasol consists of 6 large pillars and 5 levels. In one of these pillars you will find a tapas restaurant. Two elevators allow you to go up to the top of the structure and thus to stroll along the short route, which is about a hundred meters long. In addition to a pleasant stroll, you will have the opportunity to take advantage of the restaurant as well as the many shops located under the Place de la Encarnación, at the level of the covered market.

The visit will cost you 3€ with a free drink. Allow an hour to enjoy the view and refresh yourself with the free drink.

In the evening, the area is also pleasant, several tapas bars are located near the Metropol Parasol, so you can enjoy the lighting of the structure.

  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Seville Antiquarium

If you go to the Metropol Parasol, then you can't miss the archaeological remains found under it during its construction. As in many places in Seville, ancient ruins were found at the time of construction. A part has therefore been preserved and can be discovered in a place called Antiquarium, located just below the Place de la Encarnación, itself located under the Metropol Parasol.

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Spain Square

The Plaza de Espana is, by far, the monument that impressed me the most in Seville. This immense monument in an arc of a circle, located around the square, is quite simply surprising!
The Plaza de España was built on the occasion of the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. The architect of the Plaza de España is Aníbal González. He produced this work in 1929, for the Ibero-American Exhibition. The total area of ​​the park is 50 m000 which is distributed as follows:

  • 19 m000 are occupied by the palace of the square. This majestic palace is a single building of impressive size. It runs along the semicircle of the square and today it houses the Junta de Andalucia, ie the regional government of Andalusia;
  • 31 m000 are occupied by the square itself and its canals.

The Plaza de Espana has the shape of a hemicycle 200 meters in diameter. It represents Spain which welcomes its former colonies. It is oriented towards the Guadalquivir. Taking Rodriguez de Casso Avenue from the square, you arrive directly on the banks of this famous Spanish river, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean west of the Strait of Gibraltar. The orientation of the place towards the river, means the way to the Atlantic Ocean and of course the Americas.

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

In the center of Plaza de Espana there is a fountain which was designed by Vicente Traver, a Spanish architect who died in 1966 and is known to have made other notable achievements in Seville between 1915 and 1933. Between the center of the square and the palace, there are canals, also in a semicircle. Four ceramic-decorated bridges span the canals.

The Plaza de Espana is freely accessible to visitors, it welcomes many tourists throughout the year. But in summer, because of the high temperatures, it is rather advisable to come and visit it in the morning or at the end of the afternoon rather than during the day.

Opposite the Plaza you will find one of the largest parks in Seville, Maria Luisa Park.

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Visit the Seville Aquarium

Built in 2014, the Seville aquarium is one of the most important in Spain. It is home to over 7 animals of 000 different species. The aquarium has 400 pools, one of which is more than 40 meters deep which houses sharks or sea turtles. The visit to the aquarium revolves around the trip of Magellan, the Portuguese explorer who went to sea to do the world Tour.
If you are traveling with children, I recommend this tour, which I myself found very interesting. In addition, visiting the Seville Aquarium allows you to escape the sometimes stifling heat of Seville in the middle of summer. If you are interested in this visit, I invite you to read my article on the visit to the Seville Aquarium.

Buy your tickets for the Seville Aquarium

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Maria Luisa Park

On foot, by horse-drawn carriage or by bicycle, discover the largest and most prestigious park in the city. Stroll along its wide paths and lose yourself in its 40 hectares. Not only a place of peace and tranquility in the middle of the city, but it is also a bit of Seville's history that invites you to stroll.
You should know that originally, the park was part of the gardens of the Palace of San Telmo, place of residence of the Dukes of Montpensier. During the 19th century, the latter played a considerable role in the urbanization of Seville; in particular by giving birth to the María Luisa park, in homage to the Duchess of Montpensier who decided to offer it to the city.

Later, the park was laid out by a French landscaper, Jean Claude Nicolas Forestier, who created a park inspired by “Hispanic gardens” whose models are the gardens of the Alhambra in Granada or those of the Alcazar in Seville. A more than successful challenge!

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Large century-old trees rub shoulders with botanical gardens, squares, fountains and very charming little roundabouts to form a harmonious and poetic green space.
The variety of plant species there is surprising, like the different types of palm trees, some of which came from the Americas on the occasion of the Ibero-American exhibition of 1929. built the various “pabellones” (pavilions), such as that of Portugal, Chile or Mexico on the outskirts of the park; without forgetting the grandiose Spanish Square open to the park, which we presented a little above.

Another curiosity: the typical benches of azuleros, an ideal place to stop and admire the decor that surrounds you or the fauna that animates the place. Because indeed, you will surely see the famous green parrots or a few doves passing from one tree to another. Ducks and swans also put on a show under the amused gaze of walkers who feed them seeds sold by itinerant vendors installed in the park.

The Plaza de America

On the other side of Maria Luisa Park, opposite the Plaza de España stands the America Square: Plaza de America, also built, as you can imagine, for the Ibero-American exhibition of 1929.
On Place América, the central square of the park, children have fun feeding the pigeons that flock; this place is affectionately called by Sevillians “the place of the pigeons”.
The park also houses several monuments: monument to Adolfo Béquer, to Miguel de Cervantes and other literary figures. Note also the presence of two museums: the Museum of Popular Arts and Customs; and the Archaeological Museum.
To end the walk, there's nothing like a drink or a few tapas in a bar or café located within the park.

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Museum of popular arts and traditions

This museum, located on the Place d'Amérique, is housed in one of the old buildings built for the Ibero-American exhibition of 1929, just like the archaeological museum which we will talk about below.
This museum houses a lot of objects of Andalusian daily life, from the last centuries to the present day. These collections make it possible to learn more about the life of the inhabitants of the region. The museum is free and open every day except Monday.

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

archaeological Museum

Located opposite the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions of Seville, the Archaeological Museum has also moved into one of the pavilions created for the Ibero-American exhibition of 1929.
You will find in this museum, different rooms exhibiting objects from several periods: antiquity, Roman period or even the Middle Ages. Many pieces in this museum come from the impressive archaeological site located a few kilometers from Seville: Italicà.
Entry to this museum is free for EU citizens. The museum is open every day except Monday.

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

The golden tower

The Torre del Oro is an old observation tower in Seville, placed next to the Guadalquivir, the river that crosses the city. This tower was once used to store the gold brought back by the conquistadors in the XNUMXth century.
The origin of the name of this tower is not very clear. It could be taken from its function (to store gold) but also from its golden appearance that it had at the time.
The tower now houses the Maritime Museum. It will cost you 3€ for the visit of the museum including the ascent to the top of the tower.
From the top of the tower, you can enjoy a nice view of Seville and the Guadalquivir.
Regarding the maritime museum, it traces the history, among other things, of the construction of the tower and presents various objects used on ships at the time such as cannons.

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Tobacco factory

Going from the very center of Seville to Plaza de España, you cannot miss an impressive Renaissance-style building. This building, now used as a university, was once a tobacco factory. This tobacco factory was one of the first of its kind in Europe. That of Seville is particularly famous since it was in this same factory that Carmen, the main character of the opera of the same name, worked.
You can enter the university grounds for free and even get an audio guide at the entrance to the building.

  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Market and Castillo de San Jorge

Visiting Seville also means crossing the Guadalquivir to discover one of its key districts: the Triana district. You will find many unmissable places in Seville including the Castillo de San Jorge and its market. It is also the district where Flamenco, a typical dance of the region, was born.
The Castillo de San Jorge is an old castle, a former Muslim fortress from the 1481th century. It was, between 1785 and XNUMX, used as a seat during the Inquisition. It also served as a prison before being transformed, more recently, into a thematic center of tolerance. The castle is now largely destroyed. It has given way to the food market in the Triana district, which I highly recommend. Indeed, a short trip to the Triana market, to taste the specialties of the region, is something to do in Seville.
Under it, you will find a small museum in which you can contemplate the remains of the castle.

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Ceramics Museum

Let's stay a while longer in the Triana district to discover the ceramics museum. A few steps from the covered market is a part of the history of Seville: the ceramics museum. Indeed, the Triana district was once home to ceramic factories, these azulejos that can be found in many regions of Spain and Portugal. The ceramics museum will teach you more about the making and use of these small tiles.

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Attend a Flamenco show

Visiting Seville also means discovering its culture, and that starts with one of Seville's must-sees: attending a Flamenco show. For this, several places offer shows and performances of Flamenco. You can go to some museums, dedicated to Flamenco culture, theaters but also bars that offer performances from time to time.
The most famous of these places is the Museo del Baile Flamenco. This museum, founded by a former great flamenco dancer, offers daily performances.
Another popular place to attend a Flamenco show is the casa de la Guitarra.
As for the bars, the most famous are “La Carbonería” as well as: el tableo “El Arenal”. To find out more, I invite you to read my article on Flamenco shows in Seville.

Attend a Flamenco show in Seville

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Visit the stadiums of Seville

The city of Seville has two football teams both playing in La Liga, the Spanish first division. These are Sevilla FC and Betis Sevilla.
Sevilla FC plays in the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium with a capacity of 43 seats, while Betis Sevilla plays in the Benito Villamarin stadium.
It is possible to visit the latter by booking your tickets online.

Practical tips for visiting Seville

Now that you know what to visit in Seville, I suggest you review some practical information that could be useful to you before or during your stay. Feel free to leave us a comment if you have a question that we haven't answered here.

Our tips for visiting Seville:

What's the weather like in Seville?

Seville is located in southern Spain and inland. The climate is therefore dry and very hot in summer. The sun in Seville is omnipresent, there are only a few rainy days in the year. In winter, even if the temperatures are not very high (between 10 and 15 degrees), the sun makes the stay pleasant. From the first months of spring, temperatures rise rapidly. The hottest months are going to be between June and September. You can very easily reach 40° in the middle of the day in the middle of summer. All the rest of the year, temperatures vary between 10° and 25° which is very pleasant for visiting a city. The rainiest months are going to be from October to January.

When is the best time to visit Seville?

Seville is a city that can be visited (almost) all year round. It benefits from one of the mildest climates despite the high summer heat. the spring is the perfect time to visit Seville, i.e. between March and June. The heat is not yet too present and the days are getting longer. The days are beautiful, little rain and very pleasant temperatures. September can also be a good alternative.

Visit Seville in the middle of summer

If you plan to visit Seville in the middle of summer, you will therefore have to organize your days to adapt to the Sevillian rhythm. Under 40°, you think twice before embarking on long walks in the middle of the afternoon. I therefore advise you not to get up too late to take advantage of the milder temperatures at the start of the day. In the afternoon, take advantage of your hotel, which may have a swimming pool; or plan indoor tours like the Seville Aquarium. The end of the day allows you to go out again, to visit certain places and above all, to enjoy a very long evening where you can discover the famous tapas bars of the city. Bars and restaurants open very late unlike in France, no problem eating after 23 p.m. Moreover, some places are closed in the afternoon and remain open until early evening.

How to come to Seville?

The easiest is toarriving in Seville by plane. Its airport is very well served by many cities in France and Europe. If you are already in Andalusia, then you can also arrive in Seville by train or by car. See flights to Seville

How long to visit Seville?

We advise you to dedicate at least 2 days to visit Seville. The ideal is to stay 3 days on site, or even 4 days if you want to visit all the museums of the city!
Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

How to visit Seville in 3 days?

3 days is the perfect duration if you want to visit Seville properly and enjoy the city in the evening. For this, we advise you to prepare your visit in advance, to establish a program and to make your reservations before coming so as not to have any unpleasant surprises once there. In the following part, I offer program suggestions for a visit to Seville from 1 day to 4 days. Learn more.

Is there a city pass to visit Seville?

Yes, absolutely! There are even several:
  • Seville City Pass : this one includes skip-the-line tickets for the Alcazar and the Cathedral; access to the tourist bus; an audio guide to visit Seville; and discounts on other activities. It is the most complete. See this pass.
  • the Seville Super Combi : it offers the same advantages as the previous one except that you will not have access to the tourist bus of the city. See this pass.
  • la Best of Andalusia : this pass offers skip-the-line tickets for the Alcazar of Seville and the Alhambra of Granada; a guided tour of the Cathedral Mosque of Cordoba; and audio guides to visit Seville and Granada. See this pass.

What are the top sights in Seville?

Seville is full of places to visit. Here are, for us, the essential must-sees:
  • Seville Cathedral and its Giralda
  • The Alcazar and its gardens
  • Spain Square
  • The bullring of Seville
  • Metropol Parasol
  • The Triana district, the birthplace of flamenco
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

How to get around Seville?

The easiest way is to explore the city on foot. Everything is quite close and this allows you to visit the different neighborhoods of Seville. To make visits a little further away, you always have the possibility of taking the city's public transport. Or, as a last option, opt for a day of access to the Seville hop-on hop-off bus. The latter allows you to go around the city and stop whenever you want.

Where to sleep in Seville?

Regarding accommodation in Seville, I have only one recommendation: opt for the historic center of the city. This central district is ideal. You will be close to all the places to see in Seville, but also tapas bars and restaurants. The small pedestrian streets of Seville are full of charming little hotels.
On my first visit, I stayed at the boutique Hotel El Corral del Rey. A charming hotel located in a pedestrian street in an old, completely renovated residence offering very nice rooms and a pretty terrace with swimming pool on the roof. Read the article: Where to sleep in Seville?

What to do around Seville?

Seville, the capital of Andalucia, is surrounded by pretty things to do. Here's a preview of what to expect:
  • Cadiz : one of the oldest cities in Europe, Cadiz can be easily visited from Seville. You will discover a city with a rich history and heritage.
  • Cordoba : one of the most touristic cities of Andalusia, Cordoba is worth the detour for its historic center but also for its famous Mosque-Cathedral.
  • Grenada : a little further from Seville, Granada is still worth it. One of the essential monuments to visit is the Alhambra and the famous Nasrid Palaces.
  • Malaga : between beautiful beaches and a pretty city, Malaga is to be discovered not far from Seville.
  • King's Path : one of the most famous hikes in the region. Renovated a few years ago, this hike is completely secure and offers you splendid landscapes.
  • Gibraltar : go to the gates of Africa for a day. On the program, visit the caves of San Miguel, meet the macaques in Gibraltar and climb to the top of the summit of Gibraltar.
  • The White Villages : probably the most famous villages in Spain! Renowned for their beauty, you will have to crisscross their narrow streets to discover all the charm of the place. Some offer breathtaking views. Among them, you will find Ronda, but also Grazamela or Zahara de la Sierra.
See all excursions departing from Seville Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Alhambra, Granada

  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

    Mosque-Cathedral, Cordoba

  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

    King's Path

  • Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

    Ronda

Our good addresses in Seville

After several stays in Seville, I was able to test and identify some good addresses. Here are my favorites to test during your visit to Seville!

Old Cilla del Cabildo – Petits déjeuners

This address is one of my favorites for a local breakfast. Located in Santo Tomàs street, to the right of the Archival of the Indies building, this address has a terrace that allows you to taste the local specialties for breakfast and lunch, all at very good prices.

Bar Eslava – Tapas d’excellence

The Eslava bar has built a solid reputation thanks to its refined and innovative cuisine. From the marriage between tradition and creation are born exquisite dishes such as croquetas or cigarro de Bequer, a preparation based on dry bread and béchamel. Be careful, the crowd is very important and it is recommended to take place early enough.

Bar Dos de Mayo – 100% Andalusian cuisine

Right in the center of town, the “Dos de Mayo” bar offers you the classics of Andalusian cuisine. The way the waiters call you once your dishes are ready will surely surprise you; but if you are looking for authenticity and a “very Spanish” atmosphere, this is the perfect place!

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Bodega Coloniales – Tapas at a good price

This is a good address to order traditional tapas, rather generous and at a good price. Choose from: meat dishes in sauce, such as chicken with almonds or pork in Port wine, but also grilled meat, fried fish, raw vegetables, omelettes of all kinds and the famous “tablas” to share. The latter, presented on a rectangular dish, consist of large slices of bread garnished according to your desires: salmorejo and Iberian ham, quail eggs or even cheese and anchovies. Value for money is assured.

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

El Rinconcillo – An institution not to be missed

Founded in 1670, it is the oldest bar in Seville. For more than three centuries, generations of Sevillians have rubbed shoulders with tourists from all over the world who are amazed by this decor of an old bodega. Specialties: the tapa of espinacas con garbanzos (spinach and chickpeas) and pavía de bacalao (breaded cod fillet); accompany everything with an orange wine.

Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?

Mercado Lonja de Barranco – The trendy place

Facing the Guadalquivir River stands a wrought iron building attributed to Gustave Eiffel. This is where the chic and trendy gourmet market of "Barranco" is located. Just like at the market, stroll between the different stalls and take advantage of the regional, national and international culinary offerings. In addition to the culinary pleasures, the view of the Guadalquivir River and the spacious terraces ensure the success of the getaway.

Looking for a Seville travel guide?
Visit Seville: What to do and see in Seville?
Like many, I often travel with a travel guide. If you are looking for a guide for your visit to Seville, let me recommend the "Cartoville" guide from Gallimard. These guides are perfect for directing you during a city trip.
Organized in neighborhoods with numerous maps, the “Cartoville” guides really stand out from their competitors by their practical and intuitive aspect. You will discover the essentials of each district, the places to eat, where to go out, etc. Buy this guide to Seville

Visit Seville in 1 day, 2 days, 3 days or more

Now we come to our last part of this article. In the latter, I will offer you some ideas for programs to visit Seville in a few days. Whether you're just passing through for a day or staying for several days, you'll find all our advice so you don't miss anything in Seville!

Routes to visit Seville:

For all the visits or activities presented below, you can find the booking links at the beginning of the article. For some visits, it is strongly recommended to book in advance, especially if you are only in Seville for 1 or 2 day(s). See all activities to book

1 day to visit Seville

If you only have one day to visit Seville, it will certainly be short, but if you go to the essentials, you will still have time to see the main monuments of the city. I therefore suggest the following program:

  • In the morning : book a combined guided tour of Seville Cathedral and Alcazar. These two monuments are located on the same square, which greatly simplifies the visit. This guided tour lasts 2h30 and you will have seen the two most important monuments of the city.
  • The afternoon : take a walk on the side of the Plaza of Spain and Maria Luisa Park. Depending on whether you are with children, or if you like museums, there are several things to visit here: the Seville Aquarium, the Archaeological Museum or the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions. Otherwise, you can follow the Guadalquivir to go up towards the tower of Gold and Seville bullring. Once again, these two places can be visited, it's up to you to see the interest of going inside. Please note, for the arenas, if you wish to visit them, book your visit in advance to be sure of having space at the desired time.
  • At the end of the day : if you plan to spend the evening in Seville, then I recommend that you go to the side of Metropol Parasol. The latter can be visited until late in the evening. If you are there at sunset, the panorama of the city will be sublime. Then spend the evening in this area. It is very pleasant and has interesting little addresses!

Visit Seville in 2 days

If you are lucky enough to be able to stay at least 2 days, you will have more time to visit the city, but you will still have to make some choices.

1 Day:

  • In the morning : as for the previous itinerary, start your stay with a visit to the Alcazar and the Cathedral of Seville, you can opt for a self-guided tour or a guided tour. Take the time to have lunch in this historic district where there are some great addresses.
  • The afternoon : make a stop at the small museum of Archives of the Indies, the monument is pretty and interesting. Then take the direction of the Plaza de España and Maria Luisa Park. On your way, you will pass not far from theold tobacco factory. As for the previous day, you will be able to do the visits located in this part of the city. Then join the Torre del Oro and the Arenas. Return to the historic center of Seville to enjoy a typical evening at a tapas bar.

2 Day:

  • In the morning : for this second morning, head to the Triana district, cradle of flamenco. Start your visit with the Ceramics Museum which is very interesting. Stroll through the alleys around and discover the artisans of the district. Then go to Saint George Castle where you can visit a small museum. For lunch, you can whet your appetite by taking a trip to Triana covered market.
  • The afternoon : then plan a visit to the Metropol Parasol et de l'Antiquarium, located just below. Depending on the time you have then, you can very well plan to return to visit a place that you would not have had time to visit on day 1 (Seville aquarium, archaeological museum, bullring, ... for example).
  • Evening : for this last evening, I recommend that you plan to attend a flamenco show. Some places even offer tapas or a drink during the show.

Stay 3 days or more in Seville

We now come to the last itinerary proposal to visit Seville in several days. Here, different options are possible:

Option 1 – The tourist bus:

For this first option, I suggest you, the first day, to opt for the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus. This pass is valid for one day. It represents two advantages:

  • it allows you to make a first global discovery of the city. You will have an overview of the different neighborhoods to visit, places not to be missed, …
  • you can get off whenever you want and take the next bus. This allows you to visit neighborhoods a little out of the way like on the island of La Cartuja where the Universal Exhibition of 92 was held.

You can therefore dedicate your first day to this visit of Seville by bus.
For the next two days, you can go back to the 2-day program presented just before.

Option 2 – Excursions:

In this second proposal, you can resume the previous route over 2 days (or 3 days if you are interested in the tourist bus), and you can then add one or more day(s) of excursion. Indeed, we have seen that there are a multitude of things to visit around Seville. These excursions are often on the day. You can therefore easily add one or two days and make these visits from Seville, in particular the excursion to Cordoba or the White Villages for example.
This option allows you to keep one and the same hotel throughout your stay in Andalusia; to get out of Seville for a bit; but without renting a car. In addition, you will benefit from the comments of a guide, which is always interesting to discover a new region.

Option 3 – Museums:

And here is the last suggestion for a visit to do over 3 days or more in Seville. You can resume the course of the previous course of 2 days. But if you visit all the museums cities, then you will need an extra day in the city. And if you are really a fan of museum visits, know that there are many others in Seville such as the Museum of Fine Arts, the Casa de Pilatos, the Andalusian Center for Contemporary Art, the Casa de the Ciencia, the Military Museum of Seville or the Carriage Museum or the Casa Murillo.
And if you still have a little time, then end your stay with a cruise on the Guadalquivir, a splendor!

My opinion on Seville

Seville is truly my favorite city in Europe. For me, this city is perfect for a city trip of 2 to 5 days. The city is very pleasant, the climate is pleasant, outside the months of July and August, and there are many activities. Cathedral, Alcazar, Spanish Square, arenas,… the city also has a large number of parks where it is pleasant to rest when the heat is a bit too much. The atmosphere of the streets of Seville is incredible: go out and find a terrace to spend the evening and enjoy delicious tapas.
Whether it's during a city trip or during a stopover on a road trip in Andalusia, I highly recommend that you visit Seville, you won't be disappointed with your stay, I promise!

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